Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartago Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cartago

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 4% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 27.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 31% more expensive than Cartago without rent, and 27.2% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.23 COP 26K

$3.69 COP 15.4K

68.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 COP 134.8K

$29.24 COP 121.9K

10.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 COP 30.8K

$7.45 COP 31K

-0.81%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 7,155

$1.61 COP 6,713

6.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.1 COP 4,575

$0.95 COP 3,954

15.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,060

$0.57 COP 2,375

28.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 6,916

$1.05 COP 4,386

58.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 COP 13.3K

$2.52 COP 10.5K

26.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,552

$1.22 COP 5,078

-10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 5,188

$1.49 COP 6,205

-16.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 5,544

$1.2 COP 4,990

10.83%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 9,252

$2.46 COP 10.2K

-9.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 COP 19K

$4.16 COP 17.4K

9.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 COP 23.8K

$5.31 COP 22.1K

7.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 COP 35.8K

$7.78 COP 32.4K

10.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 9,410

$2.42 COP 10.1K

-6.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,461

$0.98 COP 4,089

9.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 6,293

$1.14 COP 4,749

32.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,911

$1.32 COP 5,507

7.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,619

$0.86 COP 3,597

29.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,932

$1.11 COP 4,637

6.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,718

$0.72 COP 3,000

23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,507

$0.65 COP 2,720

29.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 9,809

$2.89 COP 12K

-18.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 COP 38.9K

$11.2 COP 46.7K

-16.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 4,927

$1.12 COP 4,669

5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 10.4K

$1.95 COP 8,135

27.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 COP 3,464

$0.67 COP 2,789

23.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.9 COP 174.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,899

$1.54 COP 6,438

-8.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 8,164

$1.95 COP 8,110

0.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 COP 32.7K

$9.47 COP 39.5K

-17.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 4,265

$0.91 COP 3,812

12.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 73.4M

$22.2K COP 92.6M

-20.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K COP 109.2M

$30.1K COP 125.4M

-12.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.5 COP 344.1K

$80.8 COP 336.9K

2.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$8.89 COP 37.1K

6.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 98K

$24.59 COP 102.5K

-4.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 COP 107.1K

$22.96 COP 95.7K

11.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 79.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 16.5K

$4.88 COP 20.3K

-18.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 1.3M

$230 COP 960.1K

32.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 COP 24.7M

$6,041 COP 25.2M

-1.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 241.4K

$63.9 COP 266.5K

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 COP 131.7K

$44.35 COP 184.9K

-28.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 430.1K

$78.2 COP 325.9K

31.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 440.5K

$88.9 COP 370.5K

18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 COP 2M

$285 COP 1.2M

71.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.6M

$238 COP 993.8K

59.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 3.4M

$521 COP 2.2M

58.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 COP 3M

$425 COP 1.8M

71.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,190 COP 9.1M

$1,457 COP 6.1M

50.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 COP 6.4M

$1,219 COP 5.1M

25.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.3M

$303 COP 1.3M

81.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.58

15.98%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cartago: October 28, 2025

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